West Palm Beach OKs “art” plan on first reading

The city commission, at its Tuesday meeting, unanimously approved, on first reading, an “art in public places” program that potentially will bring millions of dollars worth of art into the city.

The vote was not without some tweaks.

In the plan, developers, as part of city approval, would provide art, or cash, equal to 1 percent of the value of any construction or renovation project of at least $500,000.

That figure was upped Tuesday, at the impetus of Commissioner Shanon Materio, from the original proposal of $250,000.

The commission, for now, turned down a requirement for developers in industrial areas to contribute amounts equal to only 0.5 percent.

A second and final vote likely would come in March.

Local architect Rick Gonzalez agreed with the higher mission, saying it could be a hardship for smaller projects and a payoff of limited value. He also suggested a cap of $25 million or $50 million in project value; the commission did not act on that.

The new policy would bring West Palm Beach in line with other municipalities, such as Boynton Beach, Palm Beach Gardens and Stuart. Delray Beach and Palm Beach County use just taxes and other public money and do not assess private developers.

Of the money, 15 percent would go to administer the program, 70 percent for buying and installing the art, and 15 percent for continued maintenance. In the plan, the city’s “art in public places” committee, and eventually the city commission, would approve all expenditures.

The committee also has recommended the city create a public art master plan to decide where to place items.